Child care and social services training in Washington

243 child care and social services programs in 6 fields of education and social services, with costs, results and funding that can make them free

36 schools offer these programs, and Washington has approved every one for workforce funding. Compare the 6 fields below, then open one to see each program with its price and how past students did.

These programs lead to work caring for and supporting people: early childhood education for preschool and child care, addiction counseling, mental health and human services work, behavior technician (RBT) training, teacher assistant (paraprofessional) training, and community health work. Most are certificates or courses that prepare for a state credential; some are two-year degrees.

All job training programs in Washington, every line of work

Accredited child care and social services programs in Washington, each school with its accreditor

Child care and social services training by state, to compare Washington with other states

Compare child care and social services programs in Washington: cost, pay and results

Early childhood education programs (preschool and child care)
175 programs at 30 schools
Most cost
$1,969 to $5,094
Earned a year, estimated
about $32,000
Working 6 months later
74%
Finished
55%
Addiction counselor training
28 programs at 19 schools
Most cost
$2,436 to $9,568
Earned a year, estimated
about $36,100
Working 6 months later
69%
Finished
57%
Teacher assistant certification
23 programs at 12 schools
Most cost
$5,292 to $10,466
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Not enough data
Finished
Not enough data
Human services programs
10 programs at 7 schools
Most cost
$2,159 to $7,126
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Not enough data
Finished
49%
Mental health technician training
6 programs at 6 schools
Most cost
Not enough data
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Working 6 months later
Not reported
Finished
Not reported
Community health worker training
1 program at one school
Most cost
Not enough data
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Working 6 months later
Not reported
Finished
Not reported

Each figure is the middle program of that field. Yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are counted; other schools in Washington may offer more. How these figures are made

Is there free child care and social services training in Washington?

Yes, if you qualify. WIOA (public workforce funding) can pay for any program counted on this page, in full or in part, depending on local limits.¹²³
Ask an American Job Center whether you qualify, or call 1-877-872-5627.⁴ Before funding training, the center goes through an assessment and a career plan with you.³
Or pay yourself. Without funding, prices differ by field: most early childhood programs in Washington cost $1,969 to $5,094, and most teacher assistant programs $5,292 to $10,466. Each field's page lists every program with its price.

Other job training in Washington, by line of work

Programs approved in Washington in each line of work.

Where the Washington child care and social services numbers come from

Which Washington programs are counted?

Programs Washington approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) in the fields listed above. Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).⁵ They come from the US Department of Labor's file for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025), covering programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what Washington offers.

What the figures for each field mean

Each figure is the middle program among those that report it: half did better, half did worse. Prices are what most programs cost if you pay yourself (the middle half). Earnings are for the second quarter after students left, times four. Where a figure is missing, the table says why: "Not reported", "Left out" or "Not enough data" (what each means).

Sources for the funding facts about child care and social services programs in Washington

Show the 5 sourcesHide the sources

Nursing and patient care

Medical office and lab

General healthcare

Skilled trades

Transportation and logistics

Computers and IT

Business and office

Beauty and personal care

Public safety

Food and hospitality

Education and social services